The 1959 Lee Petty Controversy: NASCAR’s first Daytona 500

Over a century ago, in 1902, Alexander Winton and Ransom Olds, the creator of the iconic Oldsmobile, battled it out in a head-to-head measured mile on Daytona Beach. Trying to settle their long-standing argument of which vehicle was faster, the answer would not reveal itself with ease. The result was recorded as a dead heat, meaning the finish was so close no absolute winner could be decided upon. Fast-forward to 1959, and history would repeat itself when Lee Petty and Johnny Beauchamp found themselves locked in yet another dead heat result, but Beauchamp was declared the winner.

However, this time, the trophy for the winner of the race swapped hands from Beauchamp to Lee Petty and his Oldsmobile after 3 excruciating days of turmoil. For Bill France Sr, who went through every possible angle of race footage to overturn the decision, NASCAR’s first outing at the Daytona 500 was a PR dream come true. However, for the true winner of the inaugural Great American Race, the 73-hour wait proved to be quite the ordeal. Let’s take a closer look at how Lee Petty’s first race unfolded, kick-starting a family legacy that will remain unmatched for decades to come.

The inaugural Daytona 500 led to 73 hours of confusion

Although Beauchamp was declared the winner right after he crossed the line alongside Lee Petty and Joe Weatherly, there was a sense of confusion in the air. France Sr, who was on the flagstand believed it was Beauchamp who was slightly ahead of Petty. On the other hand, Petty himself was sure of his win and that he drove his Oldsmobile to the Victory Lane. But he was met with the sight of Beauchamp and his team celebrating the win for the inaugural race at Daytona International Speedway.

Joe Weatherly also joined Petty’s side to discuss the true winner of the 500-miler. He was quoted by Auto Week as he reflected on the incident, “As (we) hit the finish line, I was about a hood-length ahead of Petty, and Petty was about the same distance ahead of Beauchamp. If Petty didn’t win this race, he never won a race. I don’t know what the argument is all about. Petty won easily.” And it wasn’t just Weatherly who chimed in to support Petty.

NASCAR photographer, T. Taylor Warren, was also convinced it was Lee Petty who crossed the line a few feet ahead of Beauchamp. Warren’s footage from the day was clear evidence of the same. The photographer went to France Sr and immediately informed him of the reality. But France Sr decided to hold on until he could review the race footage himself to decide on the official winner.

Petty himself was fairly convinced of his victory, sharing, “A man who finished two feet ahead of another is supposed to be the winner.” He further added, “I just hope the man who got to that finish line (first) collects the first prize money. I am confident I won.” The officials and media were clearly split between who the real winner was.

WATCH THIS STORY: The Daytona disaster: Richard Petty’s near-fatal encounter

With both drivers claiming the bragging rights, it was only a matter of time before the dust settled. While Johnny Beauchamp had maintained his composure and believed he had won, the true story would be wildly different.

The winner was finally decided and a NASCAR legacy was born

Trending

“Good Riddance”: $3.5 Billion Partner Could Cut Off Backing to Rick Hendrick, Claim NASCAR Fans

“It All Just Becomes Fake”: When NHRA Icon Force Named His Potential Successors to Watch Out For

Stewart-Haas Racing Picks a Side in Teams vs NASCAR After Getting Dragged in Their Dogfight

87-Yo Richard Petty Incriminates Himself With Reckless Confession

Rick Hendrick Lets Slip Inferiority to Kelley Earnhardt With Bold Claim on Dale Jr & Co’s JRM Ownership

Soon enough, it was revealed that the media and Petty had been right all along. It’s safe to say France’s thoughts on the matter were cleared up by Warren’s revelation. The three day wait finally came to an end, and it was Lee Petty and his Oldsmobile that had emerged victorious from the dead heat. After reviewing news footage from Hearst News sources to confirm Warren’s gut feeling, it was clear to France that Beauchamp finished second, followed by Charlie Griffin in third.

The man who would take the official honors of winning the inaugural Daytona 500 would be Lee Petty after all. 73 hours later from the race’s conclusion, Bill France would share the news with the motorsport world on Feb 25, “The newsreel substantiated that the cars of Petty and Beauchamp did not change positions from the time those other still photographs were taken just before the finish. Petty is the winner,” France Sr said.

READ MORE: Ingenious Cheats in NASCAR: The Curious Case of Hydraulic Spoilers

And just like that, a controversial beginning to the Petty family’s iconic legacy ended in the ultimate fairy tale.